What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seward has the most people working from home (13.1%).

Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-8.1%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Seward	Sharon
People
Population	2,055Highest	1,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-8.1%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average	40.5±4.1Highest about the NY average
	Sharon and Seward are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%	23.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±1.1Highest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%	4.5%±2.2Lowest NY: 7%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,786±$20kHighest about the NY average	$68,095±$11kLowest 21% below NY
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY	$174,600±$25kLowest 59% below NY
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,180±$201Highest 27% below NY	$1,132±$161Lowest 30% below NY
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,855Highest 41% below NY	$3,255Lowest 51% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1%	22.3%±14.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.4%Highest NY: 14%	16.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	73.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY	1951Lowest 8 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 14% above NY	30 minLowest 7% below NY
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%	8.7%±3Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Seward and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.